South Florida forecast: Warm in the morning, but get set to shiver at night as temperature drops to 40s

If you leave home Monday morning and won’t return until the evening, you might want to carry along a jacket.

It will be warm in the morning, probably in the low 80s — but by nightfall a blast of cold air is forecast to send the temperature plummeting to the low 40s overnight, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.

“There will be a dramatic temperature change,” said meteorologist Dan Gregoria.

South Florida’s first real taste of winter — December was the second warmest on record — won’t stick around long. Gregoria said Tuesday morning will still be chilly, but the weather will warm up by week’s end.

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Monday’s cold blast is part of the same weather system that has slammed the country’s midsection, delivering frigid temperatures and a foot or more of snow in some locations, Gregoria said.

The nasty weather that slammed the Midwest and Northeast late last week, along with the latest storm system, continues to snarl air traffic.

By Sunday afternoon, there were 28 flight cancellations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport — 12 departures and 16 arrivals. There were also 35 departure delays and 36 arrival delays.

At Miami International Airport there were 23 canceled flights, with 11 canceled arrivals and 12 canceled departures. There were 10 delayed arrivals and three delayed departures.

“With the weather like it is, it is very important [for travelers] to check with the airline before coming to the airport” to make sure their flights are on schedule, said Maria Levant, a spokeswoman for Miami International Airport.